Golf

Golden ties Park for 1st with eagle

By wire services
Published October 31, 2004

JEJU, South Korea - Kate Golden rolled in a long eagle putt on 18 to cap a bogey-free 8-under 64 Saturday and move into a tie for the lead with Grace Park after two rounds of the CJ Nine Bridges Classic.

Golden and Park are 9-under 135, while Annika Sorenstam is three strokes back after 67. Sorenstam is looking for her seventh LPGA Tour title of the year.

Golden hit her approach on the par-5 18th within 20 feet. She followed with an eagle putt that initially looked short, prompting Golden to start blowing toward the ball in desperation.

Turns out, she didn't need the help.

"When I hit the putt, I didn't think I hit it hard enough," Golden said. "That is why I (was puffing toward the ball) at the end there. That never works, but it worked today.

"It was just a really good day. I drove the ball well and think I hit every fairway. I think I maybe missed one green, but then I chipped in for par on 10. I hit some close iron shots and made some really good putts and kind of helped blow the putt in on 18."

Park, the South Korean star coming off a final-round collapse two weeks ago in the Samsung World Championship, birdied the 18th to complete 3-under 69.

"Today was a little bit of everything that did not work out," said Park, who opened with 66. "My shots were not great and neither was my putting. There was not a big difference, but it was still good enough."

EUROPEAN PGA: Alastair Forsyth shot 4-under 67 to open a three-stroke lead over Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia after three rounds of the Volvo Masters in Sotogrande, Spain. Play was completed in fading light at Valderrama because of an 86-minute afternoon delay caused by a thunderstorm. Forsyth was 9-under 204. Poulter, who birdied Nos.16 and 17 to catch Garcia, carded 69. Garcia had 71.[Last modified October 31, 2004, 00:57:29]